Imagine a cargo aircraft that can take off like a helicopter, fly long distances like an airplane, and do it all without a pilot onboard. That’s the idea behind Halo, Archer Aviation’s new autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft built to transport heavy payloads to places where traditional aircraft often can’t operate.
Halo is built on a dual-use aircraft platform that Archer developed with defense technology company Anduril. While Halo is designed for commercial logistics, the same underlying platform also serves as the foundation for a separate defense aircraft, allowing the two variants to share their airframe, hybrid-electric powertrain, and core systems while carrying different payloads depending on the mission.
The platform behind Halo builds on technology Archer has spent the past eight years developing for its electric aircraft program. According to the company, lessons learned in aircraft design, battery systems, electric motors, powertrain engineering, flight testing, and manufacturing were used to create a new aircraft optimized for significantly greater range, payload capacity, and endurance.
One of Halo’s defining features is its series hybrid-electric powertrain. Instead of relying solely on batteries, the aircraft combines electric propulsion with hybrid power generation to extend range while optimizing power throughout every phase of flight.
